* What are large food molecules? These are complex carbohydrates (like starches), proteins, and fats. They're too big to be absorbed directly by our bodies.
* How does digestion work? Our digestive system uses a combination of mechanical and chemical processes to break down these large molecules.
* Mechanical digestion: This involves physical actions like chewing, churning in the stomach, and the movement of food through the digestive tract. These actions physically break down the food into smaller pieces.
* Chemical digestion: This involves enzymes, which are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions. Different enzymes break down different types of molecules:
* Carbohydrases break down carbohydrates into simple sugars like glucose.
* Proteases break down proteins into amino acids.
* Lipases break down fats into fatty acids and glycerol.
The result of digestion: The small molecules produced by digestion (sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, and glycerol) are small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to the cells throughout the body, where they can be used for energy, growth, and repair.
